Time-regulated ringing-key for telephone-lines.



Patented Dec. 3|, 1901';

3 Sheets-Shee1: t.

V. gflifli'u is l 'r' rw F. W. ALSTON. TlME REGULATED RINGING KEY FOR TELEPHONE LINES.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1901.)

(No Model.)

IriaaF/r No. 690,127. Paton-ted Dec. 3|, I90].

' F. W. ALSTON.

TIME BEGULATEB RI NGING KEY FOR TELEPHONE LINES.

' (Avplication filed Mar. 5, 1901. (N0 l flodei.)

3 Shasta-Sheet 2.

No. 690,i27. Patented Dec. 3|, I90].

r. w. ALSTON. TIME REGULAIED BINGING KEY FUR TELEPHONE LINES (Application filed Mar. 5, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet .3.

(No Model.)

"m: wnms PETERS to. wornumq. man

mama

UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

FRANK I/V. ALSTON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SEECllFIG-ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,127, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed March 5, 1901. $erial No. 49,678. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK W. ALSTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, in the State of California, have invented a newand usefulImprovementin Time-Regulated Ringing-Keys for Telephone-Lines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements made in electrically-operated ringing or signaling devices, such as are employed in telephone-exchanges for calling up or signaling subscribers. The means generally provided for that purpose consist of a circuit'controlling device, forming part of the operators outfit at the switchboard and termed the ringing-key, in circuit with a source of electrical power and with an electricallyoperated bell at the subscribers station or telephone through the usual switchboard spring-jacks and connections, the call or signal being made by the operator depressing the key one, two, or more times, according to the number of rings, strokes, or units of sound that form the distinguishing-signal of the station. In the case of a single telephone stationed on a line a single ringing-key is provided, or Where two or more telephones are served by the same line, as in a party-line system, the operator is furnished with a number of individual ringing-keys corresponding in number to the telephones on the circuit. In both cases the nu mberof bells or strokes or units of sound that form the individual call are measured and determined by the movements of the key in the hands of the operator, and the evenness and regularity of the rings or strokes, both with regard to the duration of the sound and the pause or interval of rest between them, consequently depend upon the skill of the operator and the special attention bestowed in depressing and releasing the key. Under these conditions and limitations the production of clear and definite signals by a hand-operated key necessarily varies with the skill, as well as the mood, of the operatoras influencedby the varying conditions of the work at the switchboard,

and it may safely be said that the production of indefinite, unsteady, and confusing signals is always inseparable from the transmission of signals of this character by a hand-operated key.

The present invention has for its object to overcome the defects and limitations of handoperated devices'by producing a mechanically-operated timenegulated device or mechanism having several novel features and ad vantages over hand-actuated keys and like devices by which connections are electrically made and broken for operatingabellor other signal. It is under the control of the operator to the extent of being adjustable for producing at will a given number of rings,strokes, or units of sound; but after such adjustment it determines and controls automatically and independently of any manipulation or attention on the part of the operator both the dura tion of each ring or stroke or sound of the signaling device and the pause or interval of rest between the same, thereby securing regularity and an absolute uniformity in the signals transmitted.

Briefly stated, theinvention consistsin producing a time-regulated mechanically-operated circuit-controlling device and in certain novel parts and combination of parts, as hereinafter-described, and pointed outin the claims at the end of this specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, fortning part thereof.

The said drawings illustrate the application of these improvements in the production ofa ringing-key for a ten-party telephone-line having five stations or telephones on each side of the line.

Figure 1 isa front elevation of a complete mechanism for operating separate calls or signals for ten different telephones served by a single-line circuit from a central station. Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken from the left side of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing the plunger depressed and the parts in active operating position. Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation of the time mechanism and locking device controlling the plunger. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same parts representing the plunger depressed. Fig. 6 is a top plan of the plunger and the indicator for setting the circuit-selector of the time-regulating means. Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-section at 7 7, Fig. 4. Fig. 8

is a sectional view of the contact-segments in the ringing and time-regulating circuits Fig. 9 is a detail front elevation of some of the parts herein termed the time mechanism, including the spring-barrel and the stops and stop-lever that control the movements of the barrel. Fig. 9 is a top View of the toothed disk and stop-lever of the time mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detail of the parts connecting the pinion and the spring-barrel together. Fig. 10 is an inverted plan of the stationary contacts forming one part or member of the circuit-selector in the time-regulating means. Fig. 11 is an inverted plan of the movable contacts controlled and set by the plunger and forming the other part or member of the circuit-selector. Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of those parts ofthe mechanism which enter in or form part of the electric circuits, together with the Wiring of the circuits connecting the samefwith the source of electric power and with the local signals of two distant stations through the usualswitch-- board jacks and operatorsringing-plug; and

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the cut-out,

Referring to the figuresof the drawings,and

particularly to the diagram Fig. 12, it will be noticed that the apparatus shown therein has arange or capacity of five different signals on each sideof a party-line circuit, calling for fivesjgnals, numbered from 1 to 5,

inclusive, *on' the red side and five correspondinglynumbered on the black side. This particular construction, however, is shown and described for the purpose merely, of illustrating the scope of the invention and not with any intention of limiting or restrict; ing the same to a ringing device or apparatus forthe production or transmission of plural signals on. party-linecircuits between a centralstation anddistanttelephones, forit will be cvident from the-description hereinafter given that the inventionis Well adapted also forselecting and applying currents'ofdifferent character or quality, as aplusor minus or an alternating current, to one or both sides of a metallic circuitsimply by wiring the plunger and connecting thecontact-segmentsso asto supply. the required currents.

The principal parts or members thateuter into the construction of the apparatus, whatever may be its capacity or scope as to the number or variety of signals, comprise, first,

the plunger-rod a, depressed by hand and returned to position by coiled springsiZ, acting againsta cross-head 3, fast on the plunger;

- secondly, alocking device holding the plunger after it is depressed against thelreactive for'ce.

ojf the springs and composed of a locking; latchb,eugagingashoulder d on the plunger, an electromagnet f, normally in open'circuit with alocal generator 9 and operating as often asitis energized to move the latch and release the plunger, and a set of spaced con tact-segments hin the circuit between the magnet and the generator; thirdly, a circuitselecting device composed of a series of stationary contacts i, corresponding in number with the contact-segments h and with, which they are separately and severally connected, and a movable contact piece is, operative from the plunger and adapted to connect any selected one of the contacts 2' with or throw it in the generator-circuit; fourthly, a plurality of spaced contact-segments m, normally connected with one side of the generator-circuit, and, lastly, a traveling circuit-closing device 19, propelled or caused to travel over the stationary segments on by time-regulated driving mechanism ,and thereby operating to open and close the ringing-circuit at regular intervals, the length or duration of whichis governed by the rate of speed imparted to the traveling circuit-closer.

The plunger a performs the several difl er;

ent operations or functions of a circuitrcloser 'to the ringing-plug, a means for selecting-and regulating the controlling-circuits.oflthetime mechanism, and a means for winding up the time mechanism.

operations are performed or carried out; by a simple rotative movement followedby the depression or longitudinal movement of; the

All of these. functions or plunger, thereby enabling all the movements of the mechanism to be effected either,directly or indirectly from the one key orplun ger. The construction and operation of these parts which control the circuit between the generator and the ringing-plugand which 1 shall call a cut-out will be understood from Figs. 1, 3, 12, and 13 of the drawings,

where it will be seen that the plungera, be-

ing movable longitudinally in guides pro,

vided in the top plate 4 andthe bottom plate .5 of the stationary frame, is held up by the coiled springs 2. The contact-blocks w y, fixed on the plunger-rod, are composedof two sets of segments'set at a fixed distance apart, one

below the other, to make contactwith the two 1 sets of spring-terminals, 6 7 and 8 9, of which the first-mentioned springs are the terminals a wire13, connectingtogether all thesegmentsm, herein termed thejringing-segments? The contact-pieces 55 56 of the upper set. w on the plunger are separated longitudinally.

or axially by insulati0n59, andthose 55 56, composing the lower set, aredivided circum,-. ferentially of the plunger by the insulation 60, but are also connected electrically by con the connection set up between the springs 6 7 i of the upper set and those 8 9 belowwill be reversed or changed by rotating the plunger,

because the members of the contacts 20 being insulated axially will change. positions, and where the spring 6, for example, would'in one By virtue cf this. arrangement it position be connected by the contact 55 in wire to and the corresponding contact-ring 55 in y a partial rotation of the plunger will bring the same side of the circuit in connection with the other contact 56 of w and through that part with the corresponding ring 56 in 11 thereby reversing the connections between the generator-circuit and the plunger.

15 is a stationary contact rail or strip connected by the wire 16 with the other side of the generator and setting in close relation to, but properly insulated from, the segments m, as those segments are similarly insulated from one another. In this construction the segments m are arranged in a circle equidistant from an axis 17, on which the circuit-closing piece 79 is mounted, and the continuous contact rail or strip 15 is formed of a ring or disk, with its flat periphery flush with the exposed or acting faces of the segments. Upon this face as a track the two springs or brushes 18 19 of the circuit-closer p are caused to travel at a certain and regular rate of speed by the time mechanism, the details of which are shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7, and 9 of the drawings.

20 is a spiral spring having its inner end connected by a pawl 21 with a spur-pinion 22, loose on the shaft 17, and the outer end attached to the inclosing cylindrical casing 23, which is in turn fixed on the same shaft.

24 is a slide-plate having spur-teeth on the front edge to engage the pinion and a slot 25 in the back edge in which the collar fits loosely. This connection allows the rod to rotate without affecting the plate, while the latter is always connected to the rod and moves up and down with it, and thus longitudinal movement of the rod in one direction acts on the spur-pinion to wind up the spiral spring, but in the other direction the pinion will turn without acting on the spring.

26 is a disk fixed on the shaft 16, with a toothed periphery engaging the lantern-pinion 27 on the arbor of an escapement-wheel 28 and also connected with the spring-barrel, so as to be rotated by the power derived from the spring, these parts forming a clock-train of well-known character.

29 is a stop-disk attached to the spur-pinion having a shoulder 30, and 32 is an arm loosely pivoted at 33 on the frame, with its free end resting on the rim of the disk.

34 35 are stop-pins on the face of the toothed disk, and 36 is a stop-lever pivotally attached at 37 in the frame, and held by a spring 38 normally in line with the stops and with its free end in line with the collar d, so as to be struck and carried down by the rod in its descent. Afinger or projection 39 on the outer end of the lever extends under and in the path of the collar, and a toe 40 above the finger, projecting at right angles toward the disk, lies in the path of the inner stop-pin 34 when the plunger is elevated and in the path of the outer stop-pin 35 when the plunger is depressed, thus locking the disk when the plunger is up, and releasing it when the plunger is down. In the latter position thelever will arrest the disk at the end of every complete revolution by engaging the outer stop-pin. These two positions are represented in Figs.

5 and 9.

will be seen that the spring of the clock-train in the time mechanism is wound up as often as the plunger is depressed and that the same movement of the plu n ger releasing the toothed disk causes the spring to set the circuit-closing arm 13 in motion, carrying it over the segments and controlling the length or duration of the contact, and also measuring the intervals of rest or interruptions in the current by the rate of speed given to the arm. The construction and operation of that part of the mechanism herein termed the signal selecting and regulating means will be understood from Figs. 1, 2, 3, 10, and 1.1.

The pivoted latch-piece I), set in close relation to the poles of the electromagnet, has a shoulder 41 to engage the collar d. A spring 42 holds the latch away from the magnet and in position to catch over the collar as the plunger is depressed, and the magnet acting in the contrary direction operates to release the plunger by attracting the latch as often as the magnet is energized. The magnet-Windings and the latch-piece are connected by wires 43 44, Fig. 12, with one side of the generator, and also with the other side to establish the circuit, through the medium of the circle of contact-terminals i, the contact-segments h, connected individually with the contacts t by the wires 45, correspondingin number with the segments last named, and the contact-spring 46 and the plunger-rod a, through which the latch forming the terminal of one bobbin-winding is electrically connected with a selected one of the set of con tacts e.

As represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the circuit-selector 71; is a disk carrying circuit-closing spring 46 and attached to the plunger-rod to turn with it by a pin in the hub working in a groove 47 of proper length to allow the plunger a to slide in the disk. The terminals lating segment, and in the present construction the latter segments are shorter than the ringing-segments, which are necessarily governed as to their length by the duration of the current required for each operating impulse.

The number and position of the terminals of the selecting device are indicated by the circle of numerals on the top plate 4 of the frame around the plunger, and the position of the circuit-closer with respect to any particular contact-terminal is indicated to the operator by a pointer 50, fast on a sleeve or collar 51, arranged to turn with the plunger, but so arranged or held in the frame as not to be aifected by the longitudinal movement of the rod.

In operating the apparatus thus constructed and connected with ringing devices commonly employed on party-line circuits the plunger is rotated until the pointer stands over the numeral on the red or black side of the circuit, which corresponds with the number of the station or the number of bells, strokes, or units composing the desired signal. The plunger then being depressed closes the circuits at the springs 6 7 and 8 9 and is itself locked and held down by the latch b. By that movement of the plunger'also sufficient' power is stored up in or is added to the spring-barrel, and the lever 36, being simultaneouslydepressed by the plunger, releases the'disk. The circuit-closing arm thereupon begins to move, and carrying the contacts on the outer endover the row of segments makes a complete revolution or travel around the circle. By that operation the current'from the generator is thrown in the circuit that includes the signal-producing means as often as the circuit-closer 0 passes over one of the series of segments, and this continues until the circuit-closer has passed over and in contact with the whole number of segments m, unless 1 before the end of the travel is reached the plunger is released and allowed to rise. This movement takes place at any point in the travel of thecircuit-closer where that part comes in contact with one of the shorter or smaller segments h, which has previously been connected with the generator through the selecting de-- I vice, and at the instant of such contact the circuit between that live segment and the continuous contact-strip being closedlthe current is passed through the windings of the magnet and the plunger is released by the attraction its revolution.

on the dial, either on the red or black side, thereby setting the selector on the third terminaliat the bottom of the frame. Then by depressing the plunger the circuit that includes the ringing-plugt and the other circuits, in which are included theringing-s'egments m, the generator g, and the continuous strip 15, are closed at the same instant, and the same time the magnet f is brought into the circuit that includes the time-regulating segments h and the generator. Number 3 in the last-named segments, therefore, will be a live segment, for the reason that it will be in direct contact with one side of the generator through the conducting-wire 45, contact i, the selector-spring 46, plunger-rod a, lockinglever b, and wires 43, 44, and 14, thereby causing a circuit to be established with the other side of the generator through the strip 15 and wire 16 as soon as the circuit-closer preaches the third one ofthe segments h. Inconnection with this mechanism also provision is made for controlling the intervals between the signals, so as to allow a reasonable lapse of time for a reply to be received, as in the case of a return-signal, and also to prevent an operator from sending separate signals too rapidly, as in the case of repeating a signal. For this purpose the plunger is locked in the elevated position to which it has been re stored after each operation and before the circuit-closing arm has completed its travel and cannot be depressed again until after the circuit-closer has come to rest at the end of The device herein provided is a friction-lock composed of an arm 53,

loosely attached at one end to the frame and having a straight aperture through it of the same size as the plunger-rod,which is iitted to work smoothly through it as long as the arm sets at right angles to the axis of the rod. 1

The outer free end of that arm extending across the face of the toothed disk of the time mechanism projects in the path of a stop pin' 54 on the disk, and when unsupported at the outer end the arm necessarily assumes an oblique position with respect to the plungerrod, thereby throwing sufficient resistance or gripping force on the rod to prevent it from a being pressed down. On the other hand, when the arm is brought up toa horizontal position or at right angles to the rodit oifers no resistance to the longitudinal movement of that part, and the latter can be readily depressed. The movement necessary to throw off this brake-arm at the proper time is obtained from the toothed disk 26 by fixing the stop-pin 54 at the desired point tostrike and elevate the outer end of the brake as the disk reaches the end of its revolution. The interval or period of rest between the transmission of one complete signal and another following it is governed. by the adjustment of the clock train to drive the circuitcloser at greater or less rate of speed as well as by the diameter of the circle in which the latter is required to travel, and according to the standard adopted with respect to the rapidity of the signals and the intervals to be observed between them the size of the circle containing the contact-segments and the spring'driven gearing will vary in dimensions. The pointer 50 will remain over the last number to which it has been set until changed by the rotation of the plunger, thus preventing the possibility of error in repeating the call in case the attention of the operator should be diverted and the number of the call be forgotten.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An electrically-operated signaling device including a time'regulated circuit-closer, a plurality of spaced contact-segments in circuit with a generator and a signal-producing device, a clock-train operating said circuitcloser, a controlling-key and means for variably releasing said key to open the signalcircuit.

2. An electrically-operated signaling device comprising a time-regulated traveling circuitcloser, a plurality of spaced contact-segments in circuit with a generator and a signal-producing device, a clock-train-operated means connected with said traveling circuit'closer, a circuit-closing key, a locking device electrically controlled by the traveling circuitcloser, and adapted to release the key at a predetermined point in the movement of the traveling circuit-closer, and means mechanically restoring the key to position when released and thereby breaking the signaling-circuit when released.

3. In a signalingmechanism for telephonelines,a time-regulated traveling circuit-closer operative with relation to a plurality of spaced contact-segments in circuit with a generator and with a signal-producing device, and an electrically-controlled locking and releasing means including a plurality of contact-segments in circuit with the generator and the releasing means through the traveling circuitcloser and a selecting device adapted to establish a circuit through a selected one of the releasing-segments and thereby operate the releasing means at that point in the movement of the traveling circuit-closer when it reaches the releasing-segment.

4. A time-regulated ringing-key for telephone-lines including a plunger controlling the ringing-circuit, a plurality of spaced contact-segments, a generator, a traveling circuit-closer, a signal-producing device connectible in circuit with the generator through the ringing-key, and the contact-segments and adjustable time-regulating means controlled by the traveling circuit-closer and adapted to break the ringing-circuit at a predetermined point in the movement of the circuit-closer, and thereby control the number of cont-acts made by that part. i

5. In a mechanically-operated ringing-key, a series of contact-segments in circuit with a generator and with anelectrically-actuated signal-producing device through the ringing key, a time-regulated traveling circuit-closer adapted by its movement over the contactsegments to open and close the circuit at spaced intervals, a clock-train operating said circuit-closer, means for throwing said clocktrain into and out of action, and electricallyoperated means controlled from the traveling circuit-closer and adapted to break the ringing-circuit at a point sooner or later in the movement of the circuit-closer.

6. A mechanically-operated time-regulated ringing-key adapted to control the circuit between a signal-producing device and a source of electrical power, as a generator, and comprising a traveling circuit-closer, clock-traindriving mechanism adapted to operate the same, a series of contact-segments in circuit with the generator and the signal-circuit through the traveling circuit-closer, means controlling the driving mechanism and adapted to start and stop the same from the movements of the ringing-key, and means electrically controlled from the movements of the traveling circuit-closer for breaking the connection between the ringing-circuit and the generator at a predetermined period of time in the travel of the circuit-closer over the contact-segments.

7. The combination with a series of spaced contact-segmentsin open circuit with a source of electrical power and a signal-producingdevice, of a traveling circuit-closer adapted by its movements to open and close the circuit at intervals through the said segments, a clocktrain-driving mechanism operating said cir-' cuit-closer, and means electrically operated from the traveling circuit-closer and adapted to open the circuit at a given period of time in the movement of the traveling circuitcloser.

8. The combination with a series of spaced contact-segments in circuit with a source of electrical power and a signal producing means; of a traveling circuit-closer adapted by its movement to periodically open and close the circuit through the said segments, a clocktrain-driving mechanism operating said circuit-closer, means electrically controlled by the said circuit-closer and adapted to open the circuit ata predetermined period in the movement of the circuit-closer and means controlling the driving mechanism.

9. In combination with an electrically-operated signal-producing device; a generator; and acircuit-closing keyin open circuit therewith; a spring adapted to throw oil:' the key and open the circuit controlled thereby; a clock train-operated circuit making and breaking means connectible through the circuit-closing key with the signal-operating circuit; akey locking and releasing device, and electrically-operated time-regulating means controlling the release of the key and itself controlled from the circuit making and breaking means.

10. In combination with a circuit-closing key adapted to control the circuit between a signal-producing device and a generator; a locking device; a spring operating to throw off the key and open the circuit when the key is released; clock-train-operated circuit making and breaking means in the circuit controlled by the key; electrically-operated releasing mechanism in circuit with the circuit making and breaking means and controlled through the operating mechanism thereof to release the key and open the circuit at a predetermined period of time in the operation.

11. In combination with an electrically-op erated signal-producing device, a generator in open circuit therewith and a circuit-closing key, a spring adapted to throw off the key and open the circuit controlled thereby; a series of spaced contact-segments, and a traveling circuit-closer in the circuit between the generator and the signal-producing device and adapted to transmit measured electrical impulses over the line through the movements of the traveling circuit-closer, a locking device, and electrically-controlled time-operated releasing means adapted to throw off the locking device and open the circuitat apredetermiued pointin the movement of the traveling circuit-closer.

12. In combination with an electrically-operated signal-producing device, a series of stationary contact-segments in open'circuit therewith through a generator; a traveling circuit-closer, time mechanism operating the traveling circuit -closer, and variable electrically-actuated means adapted tobreak the circuit ata predetermined point in the movement of the traveling circuit-closer; said means being controlled by the traveling circuit-closer.

13. In combination a circuit-controlling key including a plunger movable longitudinally and also rotatable, a circle of contacts severally and separately in circuit with a source or sources of electrical power, and a circuit-closing contact operative under the rotation of the plunger to set the circuit closer on a selected one of the contacts.

14. The combination with a circuit-closing key, including a plungerhavinglongitudinal movement and adapted also to rotate, of a circuit-selecting device operative under the rotation of the plunger and including a circle of contacts which are terminals of a plurality of separate circuits, a circuit-closing spring connected with the plunger to be operated by the rotation thereof, and an indicating device connected to the plunger.

15. A circuit-controlling key including a longitudinally-movable plunger,a locking device, a spring adaptedto return the plunger to position after depression and release,a circuit making and breaking device including stationary contacts and a movable contact time mechanism adapted to actuate the movable contact,means connecting the time mechanism with the plunger to wind up the same from the movement of the plunger, and plun ger-releasing meanselectricall y operated and controlled from the movable contact of the circuit making and breaking device.

16. The combination of a series of spaced contact-segments in circuit with one side of a generator,a second series of contact-segments separately and severally in open circuit with the generator placed in alternate order with the first-named segments, a sound-producing device in circuit with the first-named series of segments, a circuit-breaking device separately in circuit with each of the contact-segments of the second series, and a mechanicall y-operated traveling circuit-closer connectible with the other side of the generator and means for closing the circuit between the generator and a selected one of the segments in the second series.

17. The combination with a series of contact-segments arranged in a circle at intervals apart around a common axis and interposed in the circuit between asound-producing device and a source of electrical power, of a traveling time-operated circuit-closing device adapted by its movement to alternately open and close the circuit and operate the sound-producing device, and an electrically-operated circuit-breaking means including a second series of contact segments alternating with those of the first-named series and separately connected in cireuitwith the circuit-breaking means and the source of electrical power, and means electrically con trolled by the traveling circuit-closer to throw the current on any selected one of the contact-segments in the second series to the exclusion of the rest.

18. A circuit-controlling key adapted by a longitudinal movement to open and close the circuits controlled and bya rotary movement to reverse the connection between thecircuits,includingaplunger longitudinally movable and rotatable, and a contact-block on the plungercomposed of insulated contact-pieces in separate pairs in one of which the contacts are divided axially of the plunger and are changed as to position by the rotation thereof, and the contacts in the other set are divided circumferentially and are not aifected by such rotation.

19. A mechanically-operated circuit-closing device adapted to deliver plural signals to a line, a controlling-key provided with a selector, and means whereby the mechanism operating the circuit-closer is set in motion by a single movement ofthe key.

20. A time-regulated ringing-key for telephone-lines, including a traveling circuitcloser, mechanism operating the same,a controlling-key, and means whereby the operating mechanism is set in motion by a single movement of the key, and variable stop mechanism adapted to arrest the circuit-closer at a given point in its travel.

21. In a telephone-exchange,a mechanicallyoperated circuit-closing device adapted to deliver plural signals to a line, time-regulating mechanism controlling the intervals between the signals, a controlling-key operating to throw the time-regulating mechanism into action, and a key-locking device operating to hold the key in an inoperative position and prevent a movement of the key to deliver a second signal during the operation of the circuit-closing device.

22. Inatelephone-exchange,amechanicallyoperated circuit-closing device adapted to deliver plural signals to a line, time-regulating mechanism controlling the intervals between the bells or units of sound composing a plural signal, a controlling-key operating to throw the line-regulating mechanism into action, and a key-locking device controlled by the time-regulating mechanism, operating to hold the key in an inoperative position and prevent a movement of the key to deliver a second signal during the operation of the circuitclosing device.

23. In a signaling device, a plurality of signaling-circuits, a selector therefor, a cut-out, mechanism for locking the cut-out in an operative position and means for variably releasing the lock.

24. In a signaling device a plurality of signaling-circuits, a selector therefor, a cut-out, a circuit provided with mechanism for looking the cut-out in an operative position, and means for variably releasing the lock.

25. Inasignaling device, a plurality of signaling-circuits, a selector and a circuit-closer therefor, a circuit provided with a cut-out and mechanism for locking the cut-out in an operative position, and means for variably releasing the lock.

26. In a signaling device, a plurality of signaling-circuits, a selector and a circuit-closer therefor, a circuit provided With a cut-out and with means for locking the cut-out in an operative position, said cut-out being common to the signaling-circuits and to the locking-circuit.

27. In a signaling device, aplurality of signaling-circuits, a circuit provided with looking mechanism, an operating-key provided with a selector, a cut-out, and means for engaging with the lock, and a circuit-closer for the signaling-circuits.

28. In a signaling device, a plurality of signaling-circuits, a circuit provided with locking mechanism, and an operating-key provided with a selector, a cut-out, and means for engaging with the lock, and a mechanically-driven circuit-closer for controlling the signaling-circuits, and the locking-circuit.

29. In a signaling device, a plurality of signaling-circuits, a circuit provided with looking mechanism, a longitudinallyand rotata bly movable key provided with an indicator,

a selector, a cut-out and means for engaging with the lock, and a circuit-closer for controlling all of said circuits.

30. In a signaling device, a plurality of signaling-circuits, a circuit provided with looking mechanism, and with a plurality of contacts, a contact common to all the contacts of said circuits, a key provided with an indicator, a selector, a cut-out and means for engaging with the lock, and a circuit-closer for engaging with the contacts of all the circuits.

31. In a signaling device, a plurality of signaling-circuits, a circuit provided with looking mechanism and with a plurality of contacts, one of which is common to all the con tacts of the signaling-circuits and the others are arranged to alternate therewith, a key provided with an indicator, a selector, a cutout and means for engaging with t-helock, and a circuit-closer for engaging with the contacts of all the circuits.

32. In a signaling device a plurality of si naling-circuits, provided with contacts arranged in a circle, a circuit provided with locking mechanism and with a plurality of circuits arranged concentrically relativelyto the contacts of the signaling-circuits, one of said contacts being circular and the others alternating with the contacts of the signaling-circuits, a key provided with an indicator, a selector, a cut-out and means for engaging with the lock, and a traveling circuitcloser for engaging with said circularly-arranged contacts.

33. In a signaling device, a plurality of signaling-circuits arranged in two sets, a circuit provided with locking mechanism, a longitudinally movable and rotatable key provided with a cut-out, and means for engaging with said lock, said cut-out comprising two sets of electrically-connected contacts, separated from each other, the contacts of each set being insulated from each other, the insulation being arranged longitudinally of the key in one set and circumferentially in the other, and a circuit-closer for engaging with signaling-circuits.

34:. In a signaling device, a plurality of circuits, a selector and a traveling circuit-closer thereof, an indicator, and means for simultaneously operating the selector and the indicator, said indicator being adapted to retain its position after being set until it is moved therefrom by the operation of said means in selecting another circuit.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

FRANK W. ALSTON. [n s] Witnesses:

JoHN RALPH WILSON, EDWARD E. OSBORN. 

